Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device which stores multi-value information

ABSTRACT

To enable one non-volatile memory cell to store four-value information, three different kinds of threshold voltages are serially applied to a word line in a verify operation to execute a write operation, the threshold voltages of the memory cell are controlled, and two-value (one-bit) information corresponding to the four-value (two-bit) information to be written are synthesized by a write data conversion circuit for each of the write operations carried out three times. In this way, the four-value (two-bit) information are written into one memory cell, and the memory capacity of the memory cell can be increased. In the information read operation, three different kinds of voltages are applied to a word line, three kinds of two-value (one-bit) information so read out are synthesized by a read conversion circuit and the memory information of the memory cell are converted to the two-bit information.

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No.11/595,880, filed Nov. 13, 2006; which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 11/332,206, filed Jan. 17, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,245,532;which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/832,311, filed Apr.27, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,187; which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 10/154,853, filed May 28, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.6,771,537; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/715,106,filed Nov. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,396,736; which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 09/339,960, filed Jun. 25, 1999,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,603; which is a continuation of application Ser.No. 09/096,457, filed Jun. 11, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,667; whichis a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/841,612, filed Apr. 30,1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,218, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a non-volatile semiconductormemory device. More particularly, the present invention relates to anon-volatile semiconductor memory device which makes it possible tostore four-value information (two-bit information) in one memory celland increases a memory capacity. The present invention relates to atechnology which will be useful when applied to an electricallyrewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory device such as a flashmemory. A conventional non-volatile semiconductor memory device capableof storing information by injecting an electron into a floating gate,such as a flash memory, is described, for example, in “1994 Symposium onVLSI Circuits Digest of Technical Papers”, pp. 61-62. Each of the (1)erase, (2) write, (3) write verify and (4) read operations of thisconventional flash memory will be explained.

FIG. 35 of the accompanying drawings shows a principal circuit portionof memory cells MC connected to a word line WL and a bit line EL so asto explain the operations of a flash memory for storing two-valueinformation (one-bit information) in one memory cell.

Reference numerals N9 to N12 denote NMOS transistors for executing aswitch operation (hereinafter merely called the “NMOS switch”). A sourceline is represented by symbol SOL.

The state where electrons are injected to the floating gate of thememory cell MC and the threshold voltage of this memory cell MC (Vth0)is high will be assumed as the erase state, that is, the state where thewritten information is “0”. On the contrary, the state where theelectron is not injected into the floating gate and the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell MC is low (Vth1) will be assumed as a writtenstate, that is, the state where the written information is “1”.

FIG. 36 typically shows a threshold voltage distribution of the memorycell when the memory cell latches the two-value information in this way.

(1) Erase Operation:

In this example, the erase operation is made for each word line. Theerase operation is carried out by setting the word line WL to 12 V, forexample, and applying −4 V, for example, to a substrate voltage VWEL ofthe memory cell MC and a source line SOL. In consequence, the electronsare injected to the floating gate, the threshold voltage of the memorycell MC becomes high, and the erase state is established.

(2) Write Operation:

The write operation is the one that extracts the electrons in thefloating gate and lowers the threshold voltage of the memory cell.

First, an input/output line IO is set to a high level (called also“High”) when write is made to the memory cell MC and to a low level(called also “Low”) when write is not made, and a sense latch SL iscaused to latch the data of the “High” or “Low” level.

Next, the operation power source voltage VSA of the sense latch SL israised to 4 V, for example, from the power supply voltage VCC to turn ONthe NMOS switch N10. If “High” is latched by the sense latch SL at thistime, the node side A of the sense latch SL is “High”, so that the NMOSswitch N11 is turned ON and the bit line BL is precharged to 4 V throughthe NMOS switches N10 and N11. If “Low” is latched by the sense latchSL, on the other hand, the node A is “Low”, so that the NMOS switch N11is OFF and the bit line BL is not precharged and falls to 0 V.Thereafter, the voltage of a control signal line PG is lowered to turnOFF the NMOS switch N10, and the control signal line TR is then raisedto turn ON the NMOS switch N12. The word line WL is set to −9 V, forexample, and the write operation is carried out. At this time, thesource line and the substrate voltage VWEL of the memory cell MC arekept at 0 V. The voltage of the control signal line TR is then loweredto turn OFF the NMOS switch N10 to set the word line WL to 0 V, thecontrol signal line DDC is raised to turn ON the NMOS switch N9 and todischarge the bit line BL. The voltage of the control signal line DDC islowered to turn OFF the NMOS switch N9, and the next write verifyoperation is carried out.

(3) Write Verify Operation:

In the write verify operation, the voltage VSA is first set to 1 V, forexample, to raise the control signal line PG and turn ON the NMOS switchN10. As described in the (2) write operation, if “High” is latched inthe sense latch SL, the NMOS switch N11 is turned ON, and the bit lineBL is precharged to 1 V. If “Low” is latched, the NMOS switch N11 isturned OFF, so that the bit line BL is not precharged. Next, the voltageof the control signal line PG is lowered to turn OFF the NMOS switchN10. If the word line WL is 1.5 V, and the source line and the substratevoltage VWEL of the memory cell MC are 0 V, for example, the memory cellMC is turned ON if its threshold voltage is low, a current flows fromthe bit line BL to the source line side and hence, the potential of thebit line BL drops, due to the (2) write operation. If the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell MC is not under the low state by the (2)write operation, on the other hand, the memory cell MC is not turned ONand the potential of the bit line BL does not drop.

After the voltage of the word line is returned to 0 V, the controlsignal line TR is raised to turn ON the NMOS switch N12, If thepotential of the bit line BL lowers at this time, the potential of thenode A lowers, too, and “High” latched by the sense latch SL inverts to“Low”. If the potential of the bit line BL does not lower, however, thepotential of the node A does not lower and “High” latched by the senselatch SL remains “High” and does not lower.

When the (2) write operation is made to the memory cell MC and thethreshold voltage of the memory cell MC lowers (the state where “1” iswritten), “High” latched by the sense latch SL inverts to “Low” due tothe write verify operation and the write operation is judged as beingfinished. In contrast, when the threshold voltage of the memory cell MCremains high due to the (2) write operation (the state where “0” iswritten), the operations (2) and (3) are repeated until the sense latchSL inverts from “High” to “Low”.

(4) Read Operation:

First, the control signal line DDC is raised to turn ON the NMOS switchN9 and the bit line BL is discharged. Next, the voltage VSA is set to 1V, for example, to raise the control signal line SET and to turn ON theNMOS switch N13. The node side A of the sense latch circuit SL is set to1 V and the control signal line TR is raised. The NMOS switch N12 isturned ON and the bit line BL is precharged to 1 V. The voltage of thecontrol signal line TR is lowered, the NMOS switch N12 is turned OFF,the voltage of the SET line is lowered and the NMOS switch N13 is turnedOFF. The substrate voltage VWEL and the voltage of the source line arethen set to 0 V, for example, and the word line WL is set to the powersupply voltage VCC. When the threshold voltage of the memory cell MC islow, the memory cell MC is turned ON, a current flows from the bit lineBL to the source line side and the potential of the bit line BL drops.When the threshold voltage of the memory cell MC is high, the memorycell MC is not turned ON and the potential of the bit line BL does notdrop. Next, after the voltage of the word line WL is set to 0 V, thecontrol signal line TR is raised and the NMOS switch N12 is turned ON.If the memory cell MC is turned ON, the potential of the bit line BL islow. Therefore, the potential of the node A is low, too. If the memorycell MC is not turned ON, on the other hand, the potential of the bitline BL does not drop, and the potential of the node A does not drop,either. In this way, the information stored in the memory cell MC, thatis, the information corresponding to the case where the thresholdvoltage is low (the state where “1” is written) and the case where it ishigh (the state where “0” is written), is read out.

A greater memory capacity and a smaller area have been desired fornon-volatile semiconductor memory devices. As described above, however,when only one-bit information can be stored in one memory cell, thenumber of memory cell arrays must be increased to achieve a greatercapacity. For this reason, in order to achieve a greater capacity in thenon-volatile semiconductor memory devices, the chip area must beinevitably increased irrespective of the progress of the microfabrication technology in the technical field of the semiconductorintegrated circuits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to make it possible to storefour-value information (two-bit information) in one memory cell.

Another object of the present invention is to increase a capacity of anon-volatile semiconductor memory cell and to reduce the increase of achip area with the increase of the capacity.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Among the inventions disclosed in this application, the following willbriefly illustrate some typical inventions.

In the verify operation, in brief, the write operation is effected byserially applying three different kinds of voltages to the word line soas to control the threshold voltage of the memory cell, the two-value(one-bit) write data corresponding to the four-value (two-bit)information to be written are synthesized by a write data conversioncircuit (1) for each of the write operations carried out three times,and the four-value (two-bit) information is written to one memory cell.To read the stored information, three different kinds of voltages areapplied to the word line, the three kinds of two-value (one-bit)information so read out are synthesized by a read conversion circuit (2)and the stored information of the memory cell is converted to two-bitinformation.

More particularly, when the data of an electrically erasable andwritable non-volatile memory cell (MC) is rewritten, a non-volatilesemiconductor memory device for controlling the non-volatile memory cell(MC) to an erase state, a first write state, a second write state or athird write state each having a different threshold voltage and makingit possible for one memory cell to store four-value information,includes write control means (12) for controlling each of the firstwrite operation (“write 1”) for the non-volatile memory cell to theerase state and selectively non-volatile memory cell under the erasestate to the first write state, the second write operation (“write 2”)for selectively setting the non-volatile memory cell to the second writestate after the first write operation and the third write operation(“write 3”) for selectively setting the non-volatile memory cell to thethird write state after the second write operation, and a write dataconversion circuit (1) for generating one-bit write information decidingwhether or not the non-volatile memory cell is set to the first writestate by the first write operation, one-bit write information decidingwhether or not the non-volatile memory cell is set to the second writestate by the second write operation and one-bit write informationdeciding whether or not the non-volatile memory cell is set to the thirdwrite state by the third write operation, from two-bit write data givenfrom outside. The memory device includes further data latch means (senselatch SL) for latching the write information so generated by the writedata conversion circuit as to correspond to each of the first to thirdwrite operations, for each of these first to third write operations, andfor selecting whether or not the memory cell is set to the correspondingwrite state for each of the first to third write operations.

When the memory cell is connected to the bit line and has a sense latchwhose memory node is connected to the bit line and a switch device forselectively connecting the bit line to an input/output line, the datalatch means described above can be constituted to a sense latch (SL)which is connected to the bit line selected by the switch device.

When the threshold voltage of the non-volatile memory cell under theerase state, the first write state, the second write state and the thirdwrite state are Vth0, Vth1, Vth2 and Vth3 from the higher side,respectively, the write verify voltages Vv1, Vv2 and Vv3 in the first toso set as to satisfy the relation Vth1<Vv1<Vth0, Vth2<Vv2<Vt1 andVth3<Vv3<Vth2.

When the erase state, the first write state, the second write state andthe third write state of the non-volatile memory cell are assumed tocorrespond to “00”, “01”, “10” and “11” of the two-bit write data, forexample, the write data conversion circuit sets the write information ineach of the first to third write operations to a write non-select level(“0”) in accordance with the first state (“00”) of the two-bit writedata, sets the write information in the first write operation to a writeselect level (“1”) and the write information in each of the second andthird write operations to the write non-select level (“0”) in accordancewith the second state (“01”) of the two-bit write data, sets the writeinformation in each of the first and second write operations to thewrite select level (“1”) and the write information in the third writeoperation to the non-select level (“0”) in accordance with the thirdstate of the two-bit write data, and sets the write information in eachof the first to third write operations to the write select level (“1”)in accordance with the fourth state of the two-bit write information.

In this way, the threshold voltages of the memory cell are controlled bydividing the write verify voltage into three kinds and dividedlyconducting the write operations, and the two-value (one-bit) write dataare generated in such a manner as to correspond to the write four-value(two-bit) information in each of the write operations carried outthrice. Accordingly, the four-value (two-bit) information can be writteninto one memory cell. In other words, the memory capacity of thenon-volatile memory cell can be doubled.

In order to make it possible to read the four-value (two-bit)information stored in the way described above to the outside as thetwo-value (one-bit) information, the non-volatile semiconductor memorydevice includes a read control means (12) for controlling each of thefirst read operation for selecting the memory cell in accordance with aword line select level between the threshold voltage of the non-volatilememory cell under the erase state and the threshold voltage under thefirst write state, the second read operation for selecting the memorycell in accordance with the word line select level between the thresholdvoltage of the non-volatile memory cell under the first write state andthe threshold voltage under the second write state, and the third readoperation for selecting the memory cell in accordance with the worldline select level between the threshold voltage of the non-volatilememory cell under the second write state and the threshold voltage underthe third write state, and a read data conversion circuit (2) forgenerating two-bit read data representing to which of the erase state,the first write state, the second write stage and the third write statethe state of the memory cell as the read object corresponds, from theone-bit information obtained by each of the first to third readoperations by the read control means.

When the threshold voltages of the non-voltage memory under the erasestate, the first write state, the second write state and the third writestate are Vth0, Vth1, Vth2 and Vth3 from the higher side, the word lineselect levels Vr1, Vr2 and Vr3 in the first to third read operations canbe so set as to satisfy the relation Vth1<Vr1<Vth0, Vth2<Vr2<Vth1 andVth3<Vr3<Vth2.

Assuming that the erase state, the first write state, the second writestate and the third write state of the non-volatile memory cellscorrespond to the states of the two-bit write data “00”, “01”, “10” and“11”, respectively, the read data conversion circuit outputs the two-bitread data as the first state (“00”) when the three-bit informationobtained by the first to third read operations all have the first logicvalue (“0”), outputs the two-bit read data as the second state (“01”)when the one-bit information obtained by the first read operation hasthe second logic value (“1”) while the two-bit information obtained bythe second and third read operations all have the first logic value(“01”), outputs the two-bit read data as the third state (“10”) when thetwo-bit information obtained by the first and second read operationshave the second logic value (“1”) while the two-bit information obtainedby the third read operation has the first logic value (“0”), and outputsthe two-bit read data as the fourth state (“11”) when the two-bitinformation obtained by the first to third read operations all have thesecond long value (“1”).

When three kinds of voltages are set as the word line select level to beapplied to the word line in the read operation and the two-value(one-bit) data read out from the memory cell by the read operationscarried out three times are applied to the read data conversion circuit2 as described above, the read conversion circuit can convert the memoryinformation of the memory cell to a two-bit data string and can outputthis data string.

As will be later described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11,after the operation which applies a write pulse for giving a voltage fortaking the charge into and out from the memory cell to each memory cellis made, a voltage is applied to the control gate so as to judge whetheror not the memory cell has a required threshold voltage, and thisjudgment is made on the basis of the value of a current flowing throughthe memory cell at this time. These operations constitute a cycle, andwhen this cycle is repeated a plurality of times, the width of the writepulse or the absolute value of the pulse voltage is preferablyincreased. If such operations are conducted at the same write pulse, itbecomes more difficult to take the charge into and out from the memorycell as the cycle is repeated, but the means described above canparticularly improve the write operation speed.

Preferably, the threshold voltages are set so that among a plurality ofthreshold voltages that can be set to one memory cell in such a manneras to correspond to a plurality of bit information, the thresholdvoltages are preferably set so that the Hamming distance between theinformation corresponding to the adjacent threshold voltages becomesminimal.

If a plurality of bit information are two bits in this case, forexample, the corresponding information may be sit to “00”, “01”, “11”and “10” from the lowest side or the highest side of the four thresholdvoltages that can be so set to one memory cell as to correspond to thetwo-bit information. According to such a definition of the bitinformation, any error of data due to the change of the thresholdvoltage remains the error of one bit at most, and subsequent datacorrection becomes easier. In other words, if any data error exists,“11” changes to the data “01” or “10”. Therefore, the error can becorrected to a correct data by correcting only one bit.

The threshold voltage of the memory cell after the irradiation ofultra-violet rays or the threshold voltage under a thermal equilibriumstate can be set to a voltage in the proximity of the lowest or highestthreshold voltage among the four threshold voltages that can be set. Thethreshold voltage is likely to change to the threshold voltage under thethermal equilibrium state. Therefore, when the threshold voltage underthe thermal equilibrium state is set to a voltage near the lowestthreshold voltage, the data can be written at a high speed. When it isset to a voltage near the highest threshold voltage, the data can beerased at a high speed. As will be explained later with reference toFIGS. 6 to 9, the number of times of the data write operations isgreater. Therefore, when the threshold voltage under the thermalequilibrium state is set to the voltage near the low set thresholdvoltage, throughput of the apparatus can be presumably improved.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the threshold voltageVth under the thermal equilibrium state is set near the center of thedistribution of the threshold voltage. Assuming that the thresholdvoltages are V1, V2, V3 and V4, the threshold voltage under the thermalequilibrium state is set between V2 and V3. According to this method,the potential differences are small between V1 and Vth and between V4and Vth. Therefore, the threshold voltage is difficult to change.Further preferably, the threshold voltage under the thermal equilibriumstate is set between the threshold voltages providing the greatestHamming distance between the information corresponding to the thresholdvoltages. For example, when “00”, “01”, “10” and “11” correspond to thethreshold voltages from the higher side or the lower side, the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell after the irradiation of the ultra-violetrays may be set between “01” and “10”. In other words, since the thermalequilibrium state exists between the threshold voltages corresponding to“01” and “10”, it may be interpreted that the transition of the datadoes not occur between “01” and “10”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a flash memory according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing in detail a part of the memory cellarray and the sense latch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a relationship between a writeverify voltage and a threshold voltage in four-value write to one memorycell;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an example of a word lineimpressed voltage at the time of write;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a correspondence relationshipbetween four memory cells and four-value write data written to eachmemory cell for explaining an example of write of four-value data;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the threshold voltages of fourmemory cells when all the four memory cells are erased as the firststage for obtaining the write state shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the change of the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell obtained by “write 1” after all the fourmemory cells are erased as the second stage for obtaining the writestate shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the change of the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell obtained by “write 2” as the third stage forobtaining the write state shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the change of the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell obtained by “write 3” as the fourth stage forobtaining the write state shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing an example of a voltage waveformwhen a write pulse width is progressively increased as a mode ofapplying the write voltage;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing another example of the voltagewaveform when a write pulse voltage is progressively increased asanother mode of applying the write voltage;

FIG. 12 is a logic circuit diagram showing an example of the circuit forseparating the write data into even-numbered bits and odd-numbered bits;

FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of thecircuit shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of a mode of connection ofa memory cell array, a sense latch circuit, a write conversion circuitand a read conversion circuit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a logic circuit diagram showing an example of a write datasynthesis circuit for generating data for “write 1” to “write 3” fromthe data that are separated into the even-number and odd-number by thecircuit shown in FIG. 12;

FIGS. 16A to 16C are explanatory views showing an example of thesynthesis result by the write data synthesis circuit shown in FIG. 15 insuch a manner as to correspond to “write 1” to “write 3”, respectively;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between an wordline potential and a threshold voltage of the memory cell at the time ofreadout of the memory cell into which data is written by four values;

FIG. 18 is a waveform diagram showing an example of the voltage appliedto a read word line;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing the correspondence relationshipbetween the four memory cells and the four-value write data written tothese memory cells for explaining an example of read of the four-valuedata;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing two-value data obtained by “read1” for the memory cell shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing the two-value data obtained by“read 2” for the memory cell shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing the two-value data obtained by“read 3” for the memory cell shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 23 is a logic circuit diagram showing an example of a read datasynthesis circuit;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view showing an example of the output resultby the read data synthesis circuit;

FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the circuit foralternately outputting high order bits and low order bits on the basisof the output of the read data synthesis circuit;

FIG. 26 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of thecircuit shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of a flash memory equipped with a buffer fortemporarily storing write data and read data according to the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of a flash memory equipped with a CPUaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a flash memory equipped with a buffer fortemporarily storing write data and read data and with a CPU according tothe fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of a flash memory having a DRAM as a bufferand a CPU as a multiple-chip 5 according to the fifth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of a flash memory having an SEAM as a bufferand a CPU as a multiple-chip according to the sixth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of a write operation forwriting four-value information into memory cells;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of the read operation to thememory cell into which four-value information is written;

FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure forswitching three kinds of verify voltages;

FIG. 35 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a partial structureof a flash memory in which one memory cell stores two-value information;and

FIG. 36 is an explanatory view showing an example of a threshold voltagedistribution of the memory cell into which two-value information iswritten.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the overall construction of a flash memory according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention which can write two-bitinformation into one memory cell and can read out this information.

A memory cell array 3 has a large number of memory cells, each having afloating gate and a control gate. The control gate of each memory cellis connected to a word line 6, its drain is connected to a bit line 5and its source is connected, to a source line which is not shown in thedrawings. One each word line 6 and bit line 5 are exemplarily shown inthe drawing. A word driver 7 drives the word lines on the basis of aselect signal outputted from a row decoder 8. A sense latch circuit 4 isdisposed on one of the sides of the bit lines 5. These bit lines 5 areselected by a column switch circuit on the basis of a select signaloutputted from a column decoder 11, and the selected bit line isconnected to a main amplifier 10.

It is to be understood that the column switch circuit shown in FIG. 1 isincluded in the sense latch circuit 4. An address signal is suppliedfrom an address buffer 13 to the column decoder 11 and to the rowdecoder 8. A power switching circuit 9 changes over the operationvoltages of the word driver 7, etc, necessary for the operation modessuch as erase, write and read modes. A control circuit 12 receives fromoutside an access control signal, not shown, and a clock signal 18, andcollectively controls the internal circuits of the flash memory in orderto execute the write control and the read control of the memory cells inaccordance with such signals. Though not particularly limited, theoperation modes of the flash memory are designated by an access controlsignal supplied from outside to the control circuit 12 or by commanddata supplied to the control circuit 12 through a data bus, and includethe data rewrite (erase and write) mode and the data read mode. In theinformation memory device technology which the flash memory shown inFIG. 1 contemplates to accomplish, the information memory state of onememory cell is one state selected from the erase state, the first writestate, the second write state and the third write state. These fourinformation memory states are determined by two-bit data. In otherwords, one memory cell stores two-bit data. For this reason, mutuallydifferent three kinds of verify voltages are set as the write verifyvoltage applied to the word line at the time of the write operation, andthe write operation is executed three times by sequentially changingover these write verify voltages. In each write operation, a write dataconversion circuit 1 is disposed for controlling two-value (one-bit)write data “0” or “1” (“Low” or “High”) to be latched by the sense latch(sense latch contained in the sense latch circuit 4) connected to thememory cell that effects the write operation, for each of the writeoperations carried out three times, and four-value (two-bit) informationis written into one memory cell. Further, the memory device of thisinvention includes a read data conversion circuit 2 which sets threekinds of voltages as the word line select levels to be applied to theword lines at the time of the read operation, inputs the two-value(one-bit) data read out from the memory cell by three times of the readoperations through the sense latch circuit 4 and converts this data tofour-value (two-bit) information after three times of the readoperations are completed.

The outline of the write operation and the read operation will be firstexplained with reference to FIG. 1.

In the write operation, two-value (one-bit) data string to be writtenfrom D in 16 is amplified by the main amplifier 10 and is sent to thewrite data conversion circuit 1 through a signal line 17. This writedata conversion circuit 1 separates the two-value (one-bit) data stringto be written into odd-numbered bits and even-numbered bits, forexample, transfers them to a sense latch connected to the non-selectedmemory cells in the memory cell array 3 (hereinafter called the“non-selected sense latch”) and causes the non-selected sense latch totemporarily latch them. Such a non-selected sense latch is also used asa data buffer. The write data conversion circuit 1 inputs the datalatched by the non-selected sense latch through the signal line 18 foreach of the operations “write 1 (write operation for obtaining the firstwrite state)”, “write 2 (write operation for obtaining the second writestate)” and “write 3 (write operation for obtaining the third writestate)”, converts the data to two-value (one-bit) data “0” or “1” (Lowor High) corresponding to the four-value (two-bit) data to be writteninto the selected memory cell in accordance with “write 1”, “write 2”and “write 3”, and transfers the converted data to the sense latch inthe sense latch circuit 4 connected to the selected memory cell(hereinafter called the “selected sense latch”) through the signal line18, so that each write operation of “write 1”, “write 2” and “write 3”is executed in accordance with the two-value data so latched.

As described above, the two-value data separated into the odd-numberedbits and the even-numbered bits is temporarily latched by the senselatch of the non-selected memory cell, the two-value (one-bit) writedata is synthesized by using the write conversion circuit 1 for each ofthree times of the write operations (“write 1” to “write 3”) by mutuallydifferent verify voltages, and four-value (two-bit) information can bethus written into one memory cell by conducting the write operationshaving mutually different verify voltages.

In the read operation, mutually different three kinds of voltages areserially applied to the word line 6 and the two-value (one-bit)information “0” or “1” (Low or High) read out to the selected senselatch from the memory cell from the memory cell array 3 by each of theread operations carried out three times is transferred to mutuallydifferent non-selected sense latches and is temporarily stored by them.Three kinds of two-value (one-bit) data “0” or “1” (“Low” or “High”)that are read out by three times of the read operations, are transferredfrom the selected sense latch to the non-selected sense latch and arelatched are transferred to the read data conversion circuit 2 throughthe signal line 19. The read data conversion circuit 2 synthesizes thehigh order bits and the low order bits of the four-value (two-bit) dataon the basis of the data so transferred. The read data conversioncircuit 2 alternately outputs the high order bits and the low order bitsso synthesized to form a two-value (one-bit) data string, which isamplified by the main amplifier and is outputted from Dout 17.

Incidentally, the relation between the bit information stored in thememory cell and the threshold voltage of the memory cell is preferablyset so that a Hamming distance becomes minimal between informationscorresponding to the adjacent threshold voltages among a plurality ofthreshold voltages that can be set to one memory cell corresponding to aplurality of bit informations.

It will be hereby assumed that when the bit information is two bits, theinformation corresponding to four threshold voltages V1, V2, V3 and V4,that can be set to one memory cell in such a manner as to correspond tothe two-bit information, are serially “10”, “11”, “01” and “00” in thisorder from the lowest voltage side (or from the highest voltage side).Alternatively, they are set to “00”, “10”, “11” and “01”. In thisinstance, the Hamming distance between the data corresponding to theadjacent threshold voltages becomes 1, and the circuit construction ofan error correction circuit becomes simple. It is particularly preferredthat the threshold voltage Vth at the time of the irradiation ofultraviolet rays (UV) to the memory cells is near the highest thresholdvoltage (e.g. 4V) corresponding to the information, or near thethreshold voltage at the time of electrical erasure. For, Vth is athreshold voltage under the thermal equilibrium state of the memorycell, and when the memory cell is left standing, the threshold voltageof the memory cell changes towards this Vth. Assuming that V4 is thehighest voltage and Vth exists near this V4, V1 represents the memorycell which has the lowest threshold voltage and is most likely tochange. When the error due to the change of the threshold voltage iscorrected, the construction of the error correction circuit becomessimple by setting the Hamming distance to 1. The same effect can beobtained when Vth is set near the lowest threshold voltage (e.g. V1) onthe basis of the same concept.

FIG. 2 typically shows a part of the circuit construction of the memorycell array 3 and the sense latch circuit 4 of the flash memory shown inFIG. 1. In the circuit construction shown in FIG. 2, a bit line BLa isdisposed on the opposite side to the bit line BL in such a manner as tointerpose the sense latch SL between them. When one bit line BLa isdisposed for a plurality of bit lines BL exclusively selected, this bitline BLa is a dedicated reference bit line and the circuit constructionon the side of this reference bit line BLa is a dummy circuit, thoughthis circuit construction is not particularly limitative. Alternatively,the bit line BLa may be disposed on the 1:1 basis to the bit line BL. Inthis case, one of them is used as the reference bit line for the otherand vice versa at the time of access and which of them is used as thereference bit line is relatively determined by the disposition of thememory cells as the access object. The control circuit 12 controls thisoperation.

In FIG. 2, symbols N1 to N8 and N1 a to N8 a represent NMOS switches, SLrepresents a sense latch, MC and MCa represent memory cells, VCCrepresents a power supply voltage, VWEL represents a substrate voltageof the memory cell, GND represents a ground potential, WL and WLarepresent the word lines, BL and BLa represent the bit lines, S and Sarepresent common source lines, DDC and DDCa represent control signallines for discharging the bit lines, SiS and SiSa represent controlsignal lines for connecting the source of the memory cells MC and MCa tothe common source lines S and Sa, respectively. RPC and RPCa representcontrol signal lines for precharging the bit lines at the time of theread operation, PC and PCa represent control signal lines forprecharging the bits lines at the time of the verify operation, TR andTRa represent control signal lines for connecting the bit lines and thesense latches, IOT and IOB represent input/output lines, YG represents acontrol signal line for connecting the sense latch to the input/outputline, and PP and PN represent the operation power source of the PMOStransistor and the NMOS transistor of the sense latch SL, respectively.

The bit lines BL and BLa are constituted by aluminum wirings, though notparticularly limited thereto, and a series circuit of the memory cellsis connected to one bit line BL, BLA, though not particularly limitedthereto, either. (FIG. 2 typically shows the series circuit of thememory cells connected to one bit line). NMOS switches N2 and N2 a aredisposed in order to communicate one of a plurality of series circuitsof the memory cells to corresponding bit line. In this way, the memorycell array 3 is constituted into a so-called “NOR type”. The switchingoperation of these NMOS switches N2 and N2 a is controlled by thecontrol signals SiD and SiDa.

Hereinafter, the write operation and the read operation described abovewill be explained in further detail.

(1) Write operation:

The construction and the function for the write and write verifyoperations will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 13.FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the voltage applied to the wordline at the time of write verify and the threshold voltage distributionof the memory cell into which the four-value (two-bit) information iswritten. In this case, the threshold voltage of the memory cell and thefour-value (two-bit) information are allowed to correspond in such amanner that the state of the highest threshold voltage Vth0 (erase stateof the memory cell) corresponds to the state where the information “00”is written, the state of the second highest threshold voltage Vth1corresponds to the state where the information “01” is written, thestate of the third highest threshold voltage Vth2 corresponds to thestate where the information “10” is written and the state of the lowestthreshold voltage Vth3 corresponds to the state where the information“11” is written.

To store the four-value (two-bit) information in one memory, cell, thedistribution of the threshold voltage of the memory cell is quadripoledas shown in FIG. 3. To control the threshold voltage distribution of thememory cell by the write operation and the write verify operationsubsequent to the write operation, three kinds of voltages Vv1, Vv2 andVv3 that satisfy the relation Vth0>Vv1>Vth1, Vth1>Vv2>Vth2 andVth2>Vv3>Vth3 with the threshold voltages Vth0, Vth1, Vth2 and Vth3 ofthe four memory cells shown in FIG. 3 are applied as the write verifyvoltage to the word lines at the time of the write verify operation.FIG. 4 shows an example of such word line impressed voltages. Each of“write 1”, “write 2” and “write 3” operations show in FIG. 4 representsthe two operations, that is, one write operation and one write verifyoperation. One “write 1” operation makes the threshold voltage of thememory cell, into which four-value data “01”, “10” and “11” are desiredto be written, lower than Vv1, and one “write 2” operation makes thethreshold voltage of the memory cell, into which the four-value data“10” and “11” are desired to be written, lower than VV2, Similarly, thewrite “3” operation makes the threshold voltage of the memory cell, intowhich the four-value data “11” are desired to be written, lower thanVv3, and each of these “write 1” to “write 3” operations will bedescribed below.

Each of these “write 1”, “write 2” and “write 3” operations is in commonwith the operation of the circuit exemplarily shown in FIG. 2 with theexception of the two points that the erase operation is executed beforethe “write 1” operation, and that the voltages applied to the word linesat the time of write verify are different. Therefore, the commonoperation in the “write 1” to “write 3” operations and the write verifyoperation will be first explained.

When the data is written into the memory cell MC, the input/output lineIOT on the non-invention side is set to a high level (hereinafter merelycalled also “High”) and the input line IOB on the opposite side is setto a low level (hereinafter merely called “Low”, too). In all theoperations, IOT and IOB always remain the complementary signals. Thecontrol signal line YG is raised to the select level and the NMOSswitches NB and N8 a are turned ON. In consequence, the “High” data islatched by the sense latch SL. At this time, the node A side of thesense latch SL is “High” and the node La side is “Low”. Next, the powersource voltage PP of the sense latch 4 on the PMOS transistor side israised to 4 V, for example, from the power supply voltage VCC, and bothcontrol signal lines PC and PCa are raised to the select level. The NMOSswitches N5 and N5 a are turned ON. Since “High” is latched by the senselatch SL at this time, the NMOS switch N7 is turned on when the node Aside of the sense latch A is “High”, and the bit line BL is prechargedto 4 V through the NMOS switch N5. Since the node Aa side of the senselatch SL is “Low”, on the other hand, the NMOS switch N7 a is OFF, thebit line BLa is not precharged, and the bit line BLa is set to 0 (V).The voltages of the control signal lines PC and PCa are thereafter setto the non-select level and the NIMOS switches N5 and N5 a are turnedOFF. Next, the control signal line SiD is activated and the NMOS switchN2 is turned ON. A −9 V voltage, for example, is applied to the wordline WL and the control signal lines TR and TRa are raised to the selectlevel, so that the NMOS switches N6 and N6 a are turned ON. Accordingly,the write operation is made to the memory cell. At this time, thesubstrate voltage VWEL of the memory cell MC is set to 0 V, for example.Thereafter, the word line WL is set to 0 V, the voltage of the controlsignal lines TR and TRa are lowered to the non-select level, and theNMOS switches N6 and N6 a are turned OFF. Thereafter, the control signallines DDC and DDCa are raised to the select level and the NMOS switchesN1 and N1 a are turned ON, so that the bit line BL as the write objectand the bit line BLa no the reference side are discharged and thepotentials of these bit lines BL and BLa are initialized to 0 V. Thevoltages of the control signal lines DDC and DDCa are lowered to thenon-select level and the NMOS switches N1 and N1 a are turned OFF. Thefollowing write verify operation is then carried out.

In the write verify operation, the voltage of the power supply PP of thesense latch SL on the PMOS transistor side is first set to the powersupply voltage VCC, the control signal line PC is raised to the selectlevel and the NMOS switch N5 is turned ON. When the information “1”(“High”) is latched by the sense latch SL in this instance as describedin connection with the write operation, the NMOS switch N7 is turned ONand the bit line BL is precharged but when the information “0” (“Low”)is latched, the NMOS switch N7 is turned OFF, so that the bit line BL isnot precharged. The control signal line RPCa is raised to the selectlevel and the NMOS switch N4 a is turned ON. In consequence, the bitline BLa on the reference side is precharged to a voltage lower than thebit line BL. Next, the voltages of the control signal lines PC and RPCaare lowered to the non-select level and after the NMOS switches N5 andN4 a are inverted to the OFF state, the power supply PP of the senselatch SL on the PMOS transistor side is set to VSS (power supply voltageon the low potential side such as a ground potential) while the powersupply PN on the NMOS transistor side is set to VCC (power supplyvoltage on the high potential side), so that the sense latch SL isdischarged.

Next, the control signal lines SiD and SiS are raised to the selectlevel, the NMOS switches N2 and N3 are turned ON and any one of theverify voltages Vv1, Vv2 and Vv3 is applied to the word line WL. At thistime, the source line S and the substrate voltage VWEL of the memorycell Mc are set to 0 V. When the threshold voltage of the memory cell Mcis lower than the select level of the word line due to this writeoperation, the memory cell MC is turned ON, a current flows from the bitline BL to the source line S, and the potential of the bit line BLlowers. On the other hand, when the threshold voltage of the memory cellMC is not lower than the select level of the word line due to the writeoperation, the memory cell MC is not turned ON and the potential of thebit line BL does not drop. After the voltage of the word line isreturned to 0 V, the voltage of the control signal lines SiD and SiS islowered to turn OFF the NMOS switches N2 and N3, the NMOS switches N6and N6 a are turned ON by raising the control signal lines TR and TM tothe select level and the power supply PP of the sense latch SL on thePMOS transistor side is set to VCC while the power supply PN on the NMOStransistor side is set to VSS to activate the sense latch SL, so thatthe sense latch SL amplifies the potential difference between the bitline BL and the bit line BLa on the reference side. When the memory cellMc is turned ON at this time, the potential on the bit line BL sidedrops and when the level becomes lower than the bit line BLa on thereference side, “High” latched by the sense latch inverts to “Low”. Whenthe memory cell is turned OFF, the potential of the bit line BL does notdrop, and since the level is higher than the bit line BLa on thereference side, “High” latched by the sense latch SL remains “High” anddoes not invert. Due to this verify operation, the write operation andthe write verify operation are repeated until “High” latched by thesense latch SL inverts to “Low”. The control circuit 12 executes theoperation control of each of these write and write verify operations.

Next, the control method of the threshold voltage of the memory cell inthe four-value (two-bit) write operation to the memory cell Mc will beexplained. This control method makes it possible to write four-value(two-bit) into one memory cell as described below by serially convertingthe write data to two-value (one-bit) signal “0” or “1” (“Low” or“High”) corresponding to the four-value (two-bit) data in accordancewith the write operations made three times by using the non-select senselatch by the later-appearing write conversion circuit.

Let's assume the case where the four-value data “00”, “01”, “10” and“11” are written into the four memory cells MC1, MC2, MC3 and MC4connected to one word line WL as shown in FIG. 5. These four-value data“00”, “01”, “10” and “11” are obtained by dividing one-bit data string“00011011” by two bits. Generally, eight memory cells are necessary forwriting these eight data, but the one-bit data string is divided by twoas described above to obtain the four-value (two-bit) data “00”, “01”,“10” and “11”, and each of them is written into one memory cell. In thisway, only four memory cells are necessary, and the memory capacity canbe doubled.

First, the erase operation is carried out before the write operation,and the threshold voltages of the memory cells M1 to MC4 are alighted tohigh Vth0(FIG. 6). The erase operation will be explained with referenceto FIG. 2. For example, 12 V and −4 V are applied to the word line WLand the substrate voltage VWEL of the memory cell MC, −4V is applied tothe common source line S to raise the control signal line SiS to theselect level, the NMOS switch N3 is turned ON and the source side of thememory cell Mc is set to −4 V. In this way, the electron is injectedinto the floating gate of the memory cell MC as the erase object and thethreshold voltage of the memory cell MC enters the high state.Thereafter, the write and write verify operations are carried out. Itwill be assumed that the voltage shown in FIG. 4 is applied at this timeto the word line WL.

In the “write 1” operation, the write two-value data W1IT are latched bythe sense latches SL1 to SL4 connected to the memory cells MC1 to MC4,respectively. In other words, the sense latch SL1 connected to thememory cell MC1 is set to “Low” (“0” is latched), and the sense latchesSL2 to SL4 connected to the other memory cells MC2 to MC4 are set to“High” (“1” is latched), respectively. In this way, the write operationis made to the memory cells MC2 to MC4.

Thereafter, the write verify operations that have been described alreadyare conducted by setting the word line voltage to −9 V at the time ofwrite, for example, and to Vv1 at the time of write verify. When thethreshold voltages of the memory cells MC2 to MC4 reach Vth1 as shown inFIG. 7, this write 1” operation is completed, and the “write 2”operation is consecutively carried out.

In the “write 2” operation, the write two-value data W2T are latched bythe sense latches SL1 to SL4 connected to the memory cells MC1 to MC4,respectively. In other words, the sense latches SL1 and SL2 connected tothe memory cells MC1 and MC2 are set to “Low” (“0” is latched) and thesense latches SL3 and SL4 connected to the other memory cells MC3 andMC4 are set to “High” (“1” is latched) so as to write the memory cellsMC3 and MC4. Thereafter, the write and write verify operations arecarried out in the same way as in the “write 1” operation by setting theword line voltage to −9 V, for example, at the time of write and to Vv2at the time of write verify. As shown in FIG. 8, the “write 2” operationis completed when the threshold voltages of the memory cells MC3 and MC4reach Vth2 and the “write 3” operation is consecutively carried out. Inthe “write 3” operation, the write two-value data W3T are first latchedby the sense latches SL1 to SL4 connected to the memory cells MC1 toMC4, respectively. In other words, the sense latches SL1 to SL3connected to the memory cells MC1 to MC3 are set to “Low” (“0” islatched) and the sense latch SL4 connected to the memory cell MC4 is setto “High” (“1” is latched) so as to write only the memory cell MC4.Thereafter, the write and write verify operations are carried out bysetting the word line voltage to −9 V, for example, at the time of writeand to Vv3 at the time of write verify in the same way as in the “write1” and “write 2” operations. As shown in FIG. 9, the “write 3” operationis completed when the threshold voltage of the memory cell MC4 reachesVth3, and in this way, all the write operations are completed. Thefour-value (two-bit) information “00”, “01”, “10” and “11” are thuswritten into the memory cells MC1 to MC4, respectively. As describedabove, because the “write 1” to “write 3” operations are carried outthree times by setting the word line voltage to Vv1 to Vv3 at the timeof write verify, the four-value (two-bit) information can be writteninto one memory cell.

The example of the application of the word line voltage shown in FIG. 4represents the case where the write verify operation is effected onceafter the write operation at each stage (“write 1” to “write 3”operations) to obtain a predetermined threshold voltage. Systems shownin FIGS. 10 and 11 can be employed, too, as the application form of thewrite voltage to the word line besides the application system shown inFIG. 4. The system shown in FIG. 10 represents the control whichgradually increases the application of the write voltage to be effectedonce, that is, the write pulse width. The system shown in FIG. 11represents the case where the write pulse width is kept constant and thewrite voltage level is so controlled as to gradually increase. Next, theconversion system from the two-value (one-bit) write data string totwo-value data W1T to W3T, and their complementary signals W1B and W3B,for the four-value (two-bit) write operation in the “write 1” to “write3” operations will be explained.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a circuit for separating the two-value(one-bit) write data string into odd-numbered and even-numbered bits,The feature of the circuit shown in this drawing resides in that afterthe two-value data string to be written is separated into DT and DEcomplementary signals, they are separated into WOT and WOB of theodd-numbered bits (where WOT and WOB are mutually complementary signals)and WET and WEB of the even-numbered bits (where WET and WEB aremutually complementary signals) by clock signals having cycles which aredeviated from each other by a half cycle.

The operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 12 will be explained withreference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows an exemplary case where two-value(one-bit) write data string is continuously inputted in the series of“1” and “1” (“High” and “High”) to a data input terminal (Din) 16 of aflash memory. The inputted write data string is separated into the DTand DB complementary signals by inverter circuits INV1 and INV2 and thesignals DT and DB so separated are then synchronized with clock signalsCLK1 and CLK2 whose cycles are deviated by a half cycle, forming therebyset of mutually complementary signals WOT and WOB (odd-numbered bits)and WET and WEB (even-numbered bits), respectively. In this example,conversion to the complementary signals corresponds to the conditionthat the input of the sense latch is differential or complementarysignals, and this circuit arrangement is not always necessary.

FIG. 14 shows a circuit construction for effecting the four-value writeoperation by using the complementary data separated into theeven-numbered and odd-numbered bits as described above. The constructionshown in this drawing corresponds to the memory cell array 3, the senselatch circuit 4, the write conversion circuit 1 and the read conversioncircuit 2 that are shown in FIG. 1. The memory cell array 3 comprisesfour divided memory arrays 3A to 3D, the sense latch circuit comprisesfour divided sense latch circuits 4A to 4D and the write conversioncircuit 1 comprises four divided write conversion circuits 1A to 1D,though these circuit constructions are not particularly limitative. Itwill be assumed hereby that access is made to one memory array selectedfrom these four memory arrays 3A to 3D. The signal lines of thecomplementary signals WOT, WOB, WET and WEBN are connected to the writeconversion circuit IA through switches SW1 a to SW4 a, to the writeconversion circuit 1B through switches SW1 b to SW4 b, to the writeconversion circuit 1C through switches SW1 c to SW4 c, and to the writeconversion circuit ID through switches SW1 d to SW4 d. The writeconversion circuit 1A and the sense latch circuit 4A connected to theinput/output lines IOTa and IOBa can be connected to the signal lines ofthe complementary signals WOT and WOB through the switches SEa and STaand the write conversion circuit 1D and the sense latch circuit 4Dconnected to the input/output lines IOTd and IOBd can be connected tothe signal lines of the complementary signals WOT and WOB through theswitches SBd and STd. Similarly, the write conversion circuit 1B and thesense latch circuit 4B connected to the input/output lines IOTc and IOBbcan be connected to the signal lines of the complementary signals WETand WEB through the switches SBb and STb, and the write conversioncircuit 1C and the Sense latch circuit 4C connected to the input/outputlines IOTc and IOEc can be connected to the signal lines of thecomplementary signals WET and WEB through the switches SBc and STc. Thesense latch circuits 4A to 4D can mutually exchange the latch signalsthrough the switches SRTa, SRBa, SRTb, SRBb, SRTc, SRBc, SRTd and SRBd.The control circuit 12 controls each of these switches. Each sense latchcircuit 4A to 4D can be connected to the read conversion circuit 2through the switches SOTa, SOBa, SOTb, SOBb, SOTc, SOEc, SOTd and SOEd.

In the circuit shown in FIG. 14, the signals separated into theodd-numbered and even-numbered bits by the separation circuit shown inFIG. 12 are latched and are temporarily held by the sense latch circuitconnected to the two non-selected memory arrays in order to write thefour-value (one-bit) information into one selected memory array, and thetwo-value data WIT to W3T corresponding to the “write 1” to “write 3”operations and their complementary signals W1B to W3B are synthesized byusing the writ conversion circuit provided to the selected memory arrayso that the data so synthesized can be latched by the sense latchcircuit of the selected memory array and the write operation can beexecuted.

It will be assumed hereby that the memory cell 3A is the selected memoryarray (with the other memory arrays 3B to 3D being the non-selectedmemory arrays), and the write operation is made to the memory cellscontained in this selected memory array 3A. The odd-numbered bits WOTand WOB separated by the circuit shown in FIG. 12 are latched by thesense latch circuit 4D by closing the switches STd and SBd, while theeven-numbered bits WET and WEB are latched by the sense latch circuit 4Eby closing the switches STb and SBb. Though the even-numbered bits maybe latched by the sense latch circuit 4C, the explanation will be givenhereby the case where they are latched by the sense latch circuit 4B. Ineach of the “write 1” to “write 3” operations, the odd-numberedinformation “WOT” and “WOE” latched by the sense latch circuit 4D andthe even-numbered information “WET” and “WEB” latched by the sense latchcircuit 4B are transferred to the write conversion circuit 1A of theselected memory array 1A by closing the switches STd, SBd, STb and SBband the switches SW1 a to SW4 a. Receiving these information, the writeconversion circuit 1A converts the four-value (two-bit) information tothe two-value (one-bit) data “0” or “1” 10 (“High” or “Low”), andexecutes the write and write verify operations by causing the senselatch circuit 4A of the selected memory array 3A to latch them. Thecircuit construction for synthesizing the data carried out by the writeconversion circuits 1A to 1D and an exemplary operation will beexplained next.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a write data synthesis circuit provided tothe write conversion circuit. All the write conversion circuits 1A to 1Dshown in FIG. 14 are accomplished by the circuit shown in FIG. 15. Thewrite data synthesis circuit shown in this drawing can be broadlyclassified into a circuit portion 100 for synthesizing the non-inversiondata WOT and WET among the two-bit complementary signals to obtain thedata W1T to W3T to be given to the input/output line IOT of the senselatch SL in such a manner as to correspond to “write 1” to “write 3”,and a circuit portion 101 for synthesizing the inversion data WOE andWEB among the two-bit complementary signals to obtain the data W1B toW3B to be given to the input/output line IOB of the sense latch SL insuch a manner as to correspond to “write 1” to “write 3”. The circuitportion 100 generates the data W1T on the basis of the non-inversiondata WOT and WET among the two-bit complementary signals through thesignal path selected by the mode signal) MWD1 at the time of “write 1”,generates the data W2T through the signal path selected by the modesignal MWD2 at the time of “write 2”, and generates the data W3T throughthe signal path selected by the mode signal MWD3.

The circuit portion 101 generates the data W1B on the basis of theinversion data WOT and WET through the signal path selected by the modesignal MWD1 at the time of “write 1”, generates the data W2B through thesignal path selected by the mode signal MWD2 at the time of “write 2”,and generates the data W3E through the signal path selected by the modesignal MWD3 at the time of “write 3”. In the “write 1”, the data W1T andW1B are given to the input/output lines IOT and IOB of the sense latchSL of the selected memory array to thereby conduct the write and writeverify operations. In the “write 2”, the data W2T and W2B are given tothe input/output lines IOT and IOB of the sense latch of the selectedmemory array to thereby conduct the write and write verify operations.

In the “write 3” operation, the data W3T and W3B are given to theinput/output lines IOT and IOE of the sense latch SL of the selectedmemory array, and the write and write verify operations are carried out.In all of the “write 1” to “write 3” operations, WOT and WET are givenfrom the sense latch circuit 4D on the non-select side while WOE and WEBare given from the sense latch circuit 4C on the non-selected side, tothe write conversion circuit 1A on the select side.

FIG. 16A to 16C show the output results obtained by the data synthesiscircuit shown in FIG. 15. When the “write 1” operation is made, thesignal MWD1 shown in FIG. 15 is set to “High”. Similarly, when the“write 2” and “write 3” operations are carried out, the signals MWD2 andMWD3 are set to “High”, respectively. The outputs of IOT and IOB shownin FIGS. 16A to 16C correspond to the write two-value data W1T to W3Tshown in FIGS. 7 to 9 with respect to the two-value data strings (“0”,“0”, “0”, “1”, “1”, “0”, “1”, “1”) to be written from outside, in the“write 1” to “write 3” operation.

Similarly when the data are written to other memory arrays, the dataseparated into the odd-numbered and even-numbered bits are temporarilylatched by the two sense latch circuits of the non-selected memoryarrays, the data so latched are transferred to the write conversioncircuit of the selected memory at the time of write, and after the writedata are synthesized, the data so obtained are latched by the senselatch circuit of the selected memory array.

Incidentally, the circuit for separating the data into the odd-numberedbit and even-numbered bit shown in FIG. 12 and the data synthesiscircuit shown in FIG. 15 are included in the write data conversioncircuit.

<2> Read Operation

Next, the construction for reading out two-bit information stored in onememory cell will be explained in detail. First, the construction forreading out the two-bit (four-value) data written into one memory celland converting the data to one-bit (two-value) data string will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 17 to 26.

The voltages applied to the word lines at the time of the read operationare, in this embodiment, those voltages which satisfy the relationVth0>Vr1>Vth1, Vth1>Vr2>Vth2, and Vth2>Vr3>Vth 3, shown in FIG. 17,respectively, for the quadripoled threshold voltages of the memory cell,due to the write operation described in the item <1> as shown in FIG.17. FIG. 18 shows an example of the voltages applied to the word linesat this time. The read operation by applying the voltage Vr1 to the wordline' will be hereinafter called “read 1”, and similarly, the readoperations by applying the voltages Vr2 and Vr3 will be called the “read2” and “read 3”, respectively. These three divided read operationscorrespond to the very case where the four-value (two-bit) informationwritten into the memory cell are read out as the two-value (one-bit)information for each of the “read 1”, “read 2” and “read 3” operations.

Since the operations of the principal circuits including the memoryarray and the sense latch circuit 5 are in common in the “read 1” to“read 3” operations described above, the read operation for these commonportions will be explained first with reference to FIG. 2.

To read out the data, the power source PP on the sense latch SL of thePMOS transistor is set to the ground potential VSS while the powersource PN on the NMOS transistor side is set to the power source voltageVCC. Next, the control signal lines RPC and SiD are raised to the selectlevel to turn ON the NMOS switches N4 and N2, respectively. The bit lineBL connected to the selected memory cell MC and the node side A areprecharged to 1 V, for example, and at the same time, the control signalline RPCa is raised to the select level to turn on the NMOS switch N4 aand to precharge the node La on the reference side to 0.5 V, forexample. Next, the voltages of the control signal lines RPC and RPCa arelowered to the non-select level. After the NMOS switches N4 and N4 a arethus turned OFF, the control signal line SiS is raised to the selectlevel, the NMOS switch N3 is turned ON, the source line S and thesubstrate voltage VWE1. of the memory cell are set to V and the readvoltage is applied to the word line.

At this time, when the threshold voltage of the memory cell MC is lowerthan the voltage applied to the word line, the memory cell MC is turnedON, a current flows from the bit line BL side to the source line side,and the voltages of the bit line BL and the node A side drop. On theother hand, when the threshold voltage of the memory MC is higher thanthe voltage applied to the word line, the memory cell MC is not turnedON and the current does not flow through the memory cell MC. Therefore,the voltages of the bit line BL and the node A do not drop. The voltageof the word line WL is set to 0 V, the voltages of the control signallines SiD and SiS are lowered to the non-select level to turn OFF theNMOS switches N2 and N3, respectively. The control signal lines TR andTRa are raised to the select level, the NMOS switches N6 and N6 a areturned ON. Next, the power source PP of the sense latch SL on the PMOStransistor side are set to VCC while the power source on the NMOStransistor side is set to VSS to amplify the voltage difference betweenthe node A and the node As on the reference side. The control signalline YG is raised to the select level at the timing at which theamplification operation becomes definite, and the NMOS switches N8 andNBa are turned ON. In this way, the information latched by the senselatch SL is outputted to the input/output lines IOT and IOB. Themutually complementary signals are outputted to the input/output linesIOT and IOB.

Next, read of the four-value (two-bit) information written into thememory cells in each of the “read 1” to “read 3” operations will beexplained about the case of FIGS. 19A to 19C by way of example. FIGS.19A to 19C illustrate the case where the four-value (two-bit) data of“00”, “01”, “10” and “11” are written into the four memory cells MC1 toMC4 connected to one word line WL. These four values are stored a “00”,“01”, “10” and “11” when the two-value (one-bit) data string “00011011”is divided by two and these values are stored in the four memory cellsMC1 to MC4 by the write operations described already. Symbols SL1 to SL4represent the sense latches connected to the respective memory cells MC1to MC4. This embodiment makes it possible to read out multiple values(four values) stored in one memory cell by a simple sense latchconstruction.

FIG. 20 shows the relation between the threshold voltages of the memorycells MC1 to MC4 and 20 the read voltage Vr1 applied to the word lineand “0” or “1” (“High” or “Low”) of the two-value (one-bit) data R1Tread out from the memory cells MC1 to MC4 and latched by the senselatches SL1 to SL4 by the “read 1” operation. Similarly, FIGS. 21 and 22show the relation between the threshold voltages of the memory cells MC1to MC4 and the read voltages Vr2 and Vr3, respectively, and the data R2Tand R3T read out from the memory cells MC1 to MC4 and latched by thesense latches SL1 to SL4 by each of the “read 2” and “read 3”operations. As to the flash memory having the construction shown in FIG.14, means for converting the two-value (one-bit) data R1T to R3T readout from the memory cells in which the Two-value (one-bit) informationare compressed and the four-value (two-bit) information are stored, andtheir complementary signals R1B to R3B before they are compressed andstored as the four-value data in the memory cells, will be explained.

The explanation will be given on the case where the information of theselected memory array 3A shown in FIG. 14 are read out, by way ofexample. The two-value (one-bit) data R1T read out by the “read 1”operation and its complementary signal R1B are transferred from thesense latch circuit 4A to the sense latch circuit 4B by closing theswitches SRTa, SRBa, SRTb and SRBb and consequently, the sense latch 3Blatches the data R1T and R1B. After these switches SRTa, SRBa, SRTb andSRBb are opened, the “read 2” operation is carried out. In this “read 2”operation, as the switches SRTa, SRBa, SRTc and SRBc are closed, thetwo-value (one-bit) data R2T and R2B read out from the selected memoryarray 3A are transferred from the sense latch circuit 4A to the senselatch 4C, so that the sense latch circuit 4C latches the data R2T andR2B. Thereafter, after these switches are opened, the “read 3” operationis started, and the two-value (one-bit) data R3T and R3B are read outand are latched by the sense latch 4A. The three read data latched bythe three sense latch circuits 4A, 4E and 4C are given to the readconversion circuit 2 through the switches SOTa, SOBa, SOTb, SOBb, SOTcand SOBc. The read conversion circuit 2 converts or restores the data toa one-bit data string.

FIG. 23 shows an example of the circuit for converting the two-value(one-bit) data R1T to R3T read out by the “read 1” to “read 3”operations and their complementary signals R1B to R3B to the four-value(two-bit) data “00”, “01”, “10” and “11”.

The read data synthesis circuit shown in this drawing is broadlyclassified into a circuit portion 200 on the input/output line IOT sideand a circuit portion 201 on the input/output line IOE side. The circuitportion 200 generates in parallel two-bit complementary signals YT andXT on the basis of the complementary signals R1T to R3T obtained by thethree read operations “read 1” to “read 3”. The circuit portion 201generates in parallel the two-bit complementary signals YB and XB on thebasis of the complementary signals R1B to R3B obtained by the three readoperations “read 1” to “read 3”. In other words, this read datasynthesis circuit converts the data R1T, R2T and R3T transferred fromthe sense latch circuits 4A, 4E and 4C and their complementary signalsR1E, R2E and R3E to the four-value (two-bit) data string. Symbol XTrepresents the high order bit of the four-value (two-bit) data andsymbol IT represents the low order bit. Symbols XB and YB representtheir complementary signals. When the four-value data is “10”, forexample, the high order bit is “1” and the low order bit is “0”.

FIG. 24 shows the relation between the data R1T to R3T (R1B to R3B)obtained by the “read 1” to “read 3” operations and the resultingsynthesis outputs XT and YT (XB, YB).

XT and XB of the high order bit and YT and YB of the low order bitobtained by the read data synthesis circuit described above arealternately selected by the circuit shown in FIG. 25 and are outputted.The circuit shown in FIG. 25 comprises CMOS transfer gates GXB, GYT andGYB for alternately outputting the high order bit XT and the low orderbit YT to IOT and the complementary signal XB of the high order bit andthe complementary signal YB of the low order bit to 10B in synchronismwith the clock signal CI.K3. In this way, the four-value informationstored in one memory cell can be read out as the two-bit data string.

FIG. 26 shows the outputs of IOT and IOB when “XT” and “YT” are “11”(with the complementary signals “XB” and “YB” being “00”), that is, whenthe information stored in one memory cell is “11” as the four-value(two-bit) information, as an exemplary operation timing of the circuitshown in FIG. 26. When the clock signal a CLK3 is “High”, the CMOStransfer gates GXT and GXB are opened and the signals XT and XB areoutputted to the input/output lines IOT and IOB, respectively. At thistime, the CMOS transfer gates GYT and GYB are closed, and the signals YTand YB are not outputted. When the clock signals CLK3 is “Low”, on theother hand, the CMOS transfer gates GYT, GYB are opened, the signals YTand YB are outputted to the input/output lines IOT and IOB, and thesignals XT and XB are not outputted because the transfer gates GXT andGTh are closed.

Incidentally, the read data synthesis circuit shown in FIG. 23 and thealternate output circuit of the high and low order bits shown in FIG. 25are included in the read conversion circuit 2.

The feature of the read operation explained above resides in that thetwo-value (one-bit) data read out by the three read operations, i.e.,“read 1” to “read 3”, in such a manner as to correspond to thefour-value (two-bit) information written into the memory cell, aretransferred to the sense latch circuit of the non-selected memory cell,and after the read operations of the three times are completed, thesetwo-value (one-bit) data are converted by the read data conversioncircuit to the two-value (one-bit) data string so as to read out thefour-value (two-bit) information.

FIG. 27 shows another example of the flash memory. The flash memoryexplained with reference to FIG. 1 temporarily latches the data to bewritten into the non-selected sense latch circuit or the data read outfrom the memory cell at the time of write or read, and converts them tothe data to be written into the memory cell or the data to be read outto the outside. In the flash memory shown in FIG. 27, on the other hand,a buffer 21 for exclusively governing the function of the sense latch onthe non-selected memory side is disposed inside the, clip of the flashmemory, and the data are temporarily latched by this buffer 21. Theoperations at the time of write and read and the method of convertingthe data are the same as those which have been explained about the flashmemory shown in FIG. 1, but the difference lies in that the buffer 21,but not the non-selected sense latch circuit, is used to latch the data.

In this case, the write and read operations of the four-value (two-bit)data are executed in the following way. The two-value data separatedinto the odd-numbered and even-numbered bits by the write dataconversion circuit 1 in the same way as described above are transferredto, and latched by, the buffer 21 through a signal line 23. Tosynthesize the two-value (one-bit) data corresponding to the “read 1” to“read 3” operations, the data separated into the odd-numbered andeven-numbered bits are transferred from the buffer 21 to the write dataconversion circuit 1 through the signal line 23. Three kinds of writedata synthesized by this write data conversion circuit 1 are againtransferred to, and latched by, the buffer 21 through the signal line23. The data so synthesized is transferred to the sense latch circuit 4through a signal line 24 in each of the “write 1” to “write 3”operations and is latched by the same, so as to execute the write andwrite verify operations. In the read operation, on the other hand, thetwo-value (one-bit) data read out by each of the “read 1” to “read 3”operations is transferred to, and latched by, the buffer 21 from thesense latch circuit 4 though the signal line 24. These two-value dataare transferred to the read data conversion circuit 2 through a signalline 25, and are converted to a two-value (one-bit) data string in thesame way as in the embodiment described above, are then amplified by themain amplifier 10, and are outputted from Dout 17. The control circuit12 controls these operations.

FIG. 28 shows another example of the flash memory. This flash memoryincludes a built-in central processor (CPU) 27. This central processingmechanism 27 means a circuit block corresponding to a central processingunit or a micro-processing unit. This central processing mechanism 27achieves the functions of write data conversion, read data conversionand control of the data transfer between the sense latch circuits atthese times as have been explained with reference to the flash memoryshown in FIG. 1. It is to be understood that the operation program ofthe central processing mechanism 27 for achieving these functions isstored in the built-in semiconductor memory device or in another on-chipsemiconductor memory device not shown in the drawings.

The flash memory shown in FIG. 29 includes both of the buffer 21 and thecentral processing mechanism 27 on the same semiconductor chip.

Each of the flash memories shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 includes the centralprocessing mechanism 27 on the chip thereof, can execute the operationssuch as various data conversions at the time of read and write of thefour-value (two-bit) by the central processing mechanism 27, and canexecute the write and read operations of four-value (two-bit) by usingthe non-selected sense latch circuit or the buffer 21 disposed on thechip. The four-value (two-bit) write and read operations in the flashmemory shown in FIG. 28 are in common with those of the flash memoryshown in FIG. 1 in that they use the sense latch circuit of thenon-selected memory array. The flash memory shown in FIG. 29 is similarto the flash memory shown in FIG. 27 in that they use the buffer 21. Asto the data conversion, each of the flash memories shown in FIGS. 1 and27 is equipped with the write conversion circuit for the memory arrayand for the sense latch circuit each controlled independently, whereasin the flash memories shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the read data conversionfunction and the write data conversion function are accomplished by thecentral processing mechanism 27.

The four-value (two-bit) write and read operations in the flash memoryshown in FIG. 28 are executed in the following way. When the two-value(one-bit) data string to be written is inputted from D in 16, it isamplified by the main amplifier 10, is transferred to the centralprocessing mechanism 27 through the signal line 29, and is separatedinto odd-numbered and even-numbered bits. The two-value (one-bit) dataso separated into the odd-numbered and even-numbered bits aretransferred to, and latched by, the sense latch (non-selected senselatch) connected to the non-selected memory cell of the sense latchcircuit 4 through the signal line 28. To synthesize the two-value(one-bit) data corresponding to “write 1” to “write 3” by the centralprocessing mechanism 27, the data separated into these odd-numbered andeven-numbered bits are transferred from the sense latch circuit 4 to thecentral processing mechanism 27 through the signal line 28. The dataconverted by the central processing mechanism 27 are transferred to, andlatched by, the sense latch circuit 4 through the signal line 28 inaccordance with each of the “write 1” to “write 3” operations, and areutilized for the write and write verify operations. On the other hand,the two-value (one-bit) data read out by the “read 1” to “read 3”operations are latched by the non-selected sense latch of the senselatch circuit 4 during the read operation. The two-value (one-bit) dataread out by the read operations carried out thrice and latched by thesense latch circuit are transferred to the central processing mechanism27 through the signal line 28, are converted to the two-value (one-bit)data string in the same way as in the flash memory shown in FIG. 1, aretransferred to, and amplified by, the main amplifier 10 through thesignal line 29, and are outputted to the outside from Dout 17.

The flash memory shown in FIG. 29 executes the four-value (two-bit)write and read operations in the following way. When the tow-value(one-bit) data string to be written is inputted from Din 16, the dataare amplified by the main amplifier 10, are transferred to the centralprocessing mechanism 27 through the signal line 29 and are separatedinto the odd-numbered and even-numbered bits. The two-value (one-bit)data so separated into the odd-numbered and even-numbered bits aretransferred to, and latched by, the buffer 21 through the signal 31. Tosynthesize the two-value (one-bit) data corresponding to the “write 1”to “write 3” operations by the central processing mechanism 27, the dataseparated into these odd-numbered and even-numbered bits are transferredfrom the buffer 21 to the central processing mechanism 27 through thesignal line 31. The data converted by the central processing mechanism27 are transferred to, and latched by, the sense latch circuit 4 throughthe signal line 31 in accordance with each of the “write 1” to “write 3”operations, and are utilized serially for the write and write verifyoperations. In the read operation, on the other hand, the two-value(one-bit) data read out from the memory cell by each of the “read 1” to“read 3” operations are transferred to, and latched by, the buffer 21from the sense latch circuit 4 through the signal line 30. The two-value(one-bit) data read out by the read operations executed thrice andlatched by the buffer 21 are transferred to the central processingmechanism 27 through the signal line 31, are converted to the two-value(one-bit) data string in the same way as in the flash memory shown inFIG. 1, are then transferred to, and amplified by, the main amplifier 10through the signal line 29, and are outputted to the outside from Dout17. Incidentally, the flash memory equipped with the on-chip centralprocessing mechanism 27 can accomplish the functions of the controlcircuit 12 by its central processing mechanism 27.

FIG. 30 shows an example of the case where the single chip shown inFIGS. 28 and 29 is accomplished y multiple chips. In other words, thisexample comprises the flash memory 33, the central processing mechanism27 and a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) in the multi-chipconfiguration. In comparison with the flash memory shown in FIG. 28,this flash memory 33 does not have a built-in central processingmechanism, and in comparison with the flash memory shown in FIG. 2, itdoes not include the write conversion circuit and the read conversioncircuit. When the data is converted at the time of the read and writeoperations, the data is transferred to, and temporarily latched, by theDRAM 34, and the central processing mechanism 27 executes this dataconversion, and writes the four-value data to one memory cell or readsthe four-value data stored in one memory cell. In FIG. 30, referencenumerals 38 and 39 denote control signals, and reference numerals 35, 36and 37 denote signal lines for the address and the data.

The circuit shown in FIG. 31 is different in that the DRAM 34 containedin the circuit construction shown in FIG. 30 is changed to an SHAM(Static Random Access Memory) 40. In this circuit construction, the dataare transferred to, and temporarily latched, by the SRAM 40 at the timeof the data conversion, the central processing mechanism 27 executes theconversion of the data latched by the SHAM 40 and the read or writeoperation. In FIG. 31, reference numerals 38 and 43 denote the controlsignals and reference numerals 36, 41 and 42 denote the signal lines forthe address and the data.

FIGS. 32 and 33 show an example of the procedure of the four-value(two-bit) write and read operations in various flash memories that havebeen explained above. In other words, when the write operation isexecuted, the write data are separated into the odd-numbered andeven-numbered bits, and are temporarily stored in the sense latch of thenon-selected memory array or the buffer 21 or the external DRAM 34 orSRAM 40 (51). Next, the write two-value data to be practically writteninto the memory cell are serially synthesized from the data storedtemporarily in accordance with each of the “write 1” to “write 3”operations, and are transferred to the sense latch of the selectedmemory array (52). The write voltage is applied to the word line, andthe write operation of the memory cell is executed in accordance withthe data latched by the sense latch (5-3). The write verify operation ismade for the memory cell to which the write operation is made (54), andthe operations of Steps 53 and 54 are repeated until the requiredthreshold voltage can be obtained by the write operation (55). Whetheror not the write operation is made up to “write 3” is then judged (56).If the write operation is not completed up to “write 3”, the writeverify voltage is set to the next verify voltage (57) and the Steps 51to 57 are repeated until “write 3” is completed.

In the read operation, the read voltage Vr1 is first applied to the wordline of the memory cell as the access object and the “read 1” operationis executed (511). The two-value data thus read out are transferred tothe sense latch corresponding to the non-selected memory array, thebuffer 21 or the DRAM 34 or the SRAM 40 (512). Next, the read voltageVr2 is applied to the word line, and the “read 2” operation is carriedout (513), so that the two-value data so read out are transferred to thesense latch corresponding to the non-selected memory array, the buffer21 or the DRAM 34 or the SRAM 40 (514). Further, the “read 3” operationis carried out by applying the read voltage Vr3 to the word line (515),so that the two-value data so read out are transferred to the senselatch corresponding to the non-selected memory array or the buffer 21 orthe DRAM 34 or the SRAM 40 (516). The two-value data obtained in thisway by the “read 1” to “read 3” operations are converted by the centralprocessing mechanism 27 into the high order bit and the low order bit ofthe two-value data string, and are alternately outputted to the outside(SI7).

FIG. 34 shows an structural example of the circuit for changing over thewrite verify voltages Vv1, Vv2 and Vv3 at the time of the writeoperation. This circuit is included in the power source switchingcircuit 9 shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 27 to 29. The verify finish signal14 shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 27 to 29 is outputted from the sense latchcircuit 4. In other words, the signal from the input/output line IOT inthe write verify operation is the verify finish signal 14. This verifyfinish signal 14 is activated at a predetermined timing when the writestate reaches a predetermined threshold voltage in the write verifyoperation of each of the “write 1” to “write 3” operations, that is,when the individual write operation in each of the “write 1” to “write3” is completed. The verify finish signal 14 is supplied as the shiftclock to the shift register 900, and whenever each of the “write 1” to“write 3” operation is completed, the carry latched by the initial stagememory circuit is serially shifted to the memory circuit of the poststate. The switching operations of the switches Sv1 to Sv3 is controlledby the latch signal of each memory circuit. The switch Sv1 is turned ONat the initial stage, and the switches which are turned ON becomeserially different in accordance with the sequence of the transfer ofthe carry. The write verify voltages Vv1 to Vv3 are generated by voltagegeneration circuit s 901 to 903, and the switches Sv1 to Sv3 select theverify voltages Vv1 to Vv3 generated by these voltage generationcircuits 901 to 903 and apply them to the word driver 7.

As described above, the verify finish signal 14 is inputted to the shiftregister 900 and the verify voltage is changed over. To apply the writeverify voltage Vv1 in the “write 1” operation to the word line, theswitch Sv1 is turned ON. When the verify finish signal of “write 1” isapplied to the shift register 900, the switch Sv1 is turned OFF but theswitch Sv2 is turned ON, so that the write verify voltage Vv2 of “write2” is applied as the verify voltage to the word line. Similarly, whenverify of “write 2” is completed, the switch Sv2 is turned OFF but theswitch Sv3 is turned ON, so that Vv3 is applied as the verify voltage tothe word line. When the verify finish end signal of “write 3” isinputted to the shift register, the shift register is reset and theswitch Sv3 is turned OFF, too, and all the write operations arecompleted.

As explained above, the present invention applies three different kindsof voltages to the word line at the time of the verify operation,controls the threshold voltage of the memory cc1, and synthesizes thetwo-value (one-bit) write, data corresponding to the four-value(two-bit) information to be written in each of the three writeoperations by using the sense latch circuit connected to thenon-selected memory array or the buffer disposed inside the chip, or theexternal DRAM or SPRAM. Therefore, the present invention can write thefour-value (one-bit) information into one memory cell, and ca double thememory capacity of the flash memory. To read out the four-value(one-bit) information stored in this way and to obtain the two-value(one-bit) information, on the other hand, three different kinds ofvoltages are applied to the word line at the time of the read operation,the two-value (one-bit) information read out in each of these readoperations is temporarily stored in the sense latch circuit connected tothe non-selected memory array or the buffer disposed inside the chip orthe external DRAM or SRAM, and three kinds of two-value (one-bit)information are then synthesized, and are converted to the two-value(one-bit) information corresponding to the four-value (two-bit)information stored in the memory cell.

Though the invention completed by the present inventor has thus beenexplained concretely with reference to some preferred embodimentsthereof, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, butcan be changed or modified naturally in various ways without departingfrom the scope thereof. For example, the flash memory shown in FIG. 1,etc. is single memory LSI but it can be constituted into an on-chipmemory of a logic LSI such as a micro-computer. The memory cell of themulti-chip construction shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 can be constituted intoa single chip and in such a case, the circuit construction shown inFIGS. 30 and 31 can be located as one of the functions of the dataprocessing LSI such as a micro-computer. In such a case, the centralprocessing mechanism 27 can be regarded as the circuit versatilityutilized for other data processings. The non-volatile semiconductormemory device of the present invention' is not particularly limited tothe flash memory having one-transistor type memory cells but can beapplied to an EEPROM the memory cells of which comprise memorytransistors and select transistors.

The effects brought forth by the typical inventions among thosedisclosed in this application are briefly as follows.

In the verify operation, the write operations are carried out seriallythree times by applying three different kinds of voltages to the wordline to control the threshold voltage of the memory cell. The two-value(one-bit) write data corresponding to the four-value (two-bit)information to be written are synthesized by the sense latch circuitconnected to the non-selected array or the buffer disposed inside thechip or the external DRAM or SRAM, for example, in the write dataconversion circuit for each write operation, and in this way, thefour-value (two-bit) information can be written into one memory cell,and the memory capacity of the flash memory can be doubled.

To read out the four-value (two-bit) information so stored and toconvert them to the two-value (one-bit) information, three differentkinds of voltages are serially applied to the word line at the time ofthe read operation, the two-value (one-bit) information read out in eachread operation are temporarily stored in the sense latch circuitconnected to the non-selected array or the buffer disposed inside thechip or the external DRAM or SRAM, for example. Three kinds of two-value(one-bit) information stored in this way are synthesized by the readconversion circuit, and are converted to, and outputted as, the two-bitinformation string corresponding to the four-value (two-bit) informationstored in the memory cell,

As explained above, the present invention can restrict the increase ofthe capacity of the non-volatile semiconductor memory device such as aflash memory and can minimize the increase of the chip area resultingfrom a greater capacity.

1. A semiconductor device comprising: a memory including a plurality ofmemory cells, each of the plurality of memory cells having a storageelement; and a processing unit reading out a write data which has aplurality of bits from a buffer and transferring write informationaccording to the write data to the memory, wherein each of the pluralityof memory cells stores the plurality of bits of the write data bysetting the storage element to a first state in a first write operationor to a second state in a second write operation, wherein in the firstand second write operations, each of the plurality of memory cells aresupplied a plurality of write pulses according to the write informationfrom the processing unit, and wherein a pulse height of a last writepulse of the plurality of write pulse is larger than a pulse height of afirst write pulse of the plurality of write pulses.
 2. A semiconductordevice according to claim 1, wherein the memory and the processing unitare formed on different chips.
 3. A semiconductor device according toclaim 1, wherein the processing unit generates the write information bysynthesizing the plurality of bits of the write data.
 4. A semiconductordevice according to claim 1, wherein the memory further includes: aplurality of bit lines coupled to the plurality of memory cells and aplurality of sense latch circuits coupled to the plurality of bit lines,and wherein the write information is written into one of the pluralityof sense latch circuits.
 5. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,wherein the storage element is a floating gate, and wherein each of theplurality of memory cells further includes: a control gate.
 6. Asemiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein the memory performs averify operation by supplying a read pulse to the control gate to readout information stored in the memory cell and comparing the informationread out from the memory cell with the write information.
 7. Asemiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the memory cell isset to the second state after being set to the first state.
 8. Asemiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein a pulse width of eachof the plurality of write pulse is same width.
 9. A semiconductor devicecomprising: a memory including a plurality of memory cells, each of theplurality of memory cells having a storage element; and a processingunit reading out a write data which has a plurality of bits from abuffer and transferring write information according to the write data tothe memory, wherein each of the plurality of memory cells stores theplurality of bits of the write data by setting the storage element to afirst state in a first write operation or to a second state in a secondwrite operation, wherein in the first and second write operations, eachof the plurality of memory cells are supplied a plurality of writepulses according to the write information from the processing unit, andwherein a pulse width of a last write pulse of the plurality of writepulses is larger than a pulse width of a first write pulse of theplurality of write pulses.
 10. A semiconductor device according to claim9, wherein the memory and the processing unit are formed on differentchips.
 11. A semiconductor device according to claim 9, wherein theprocessing unit generates the write information by synthesizing theplurality of bits of the write data.
 12. A semiconductor deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the memory further includes: a pluralityof bits lines coupled to the plurality of memory cells and a pluralityof sense latch circuits coupled to the plurality of bit lines, andwherein the write information is written into one of the plurality ofsense latch circuits.
 13. A semiconductor device according to claim 9,wherein the storage element is a floating gate, and wherein each of theplurality of memory cells further includes: a control gate.
 14. Asemiconductor device according to claim 13, wherein the memory performsa verify operation by supplying a read pulse to the control gate to readout information stored in the memory cell and comparing the informationread out from the memory cell with the write information.
 15. Asemiconductor device according to claim 9, wherein the memory cell isset to the second state after being set to the first state.
 16. Asemiconductor device according to claim 9, wherein a pulse height ofeach of the plurality of write pulses is the same height.